An Important civic leader of Billings, Ignatius Daniel (I.D. or Bud) O'Donnell was born September 19, 1860 in Ontario, Canada. Arrived in Miles City, April 10, 1882. Friend of Parmly Billings and Edward Bailey, he ran the Billings Farm in Yellowstone County. See History of Montana by Saunders, History of Montana by Stout and Capitalism on the Frontier by Van West. A major promoter for building irrigation projects and agriculture, including the growing of sugar beets and alfalfa. U. S. Reclamation Service Supervisor of Irrigation from 1913 to 1918. Associated with Yellowstone Fair Association, Billings Polytechnic Institute, Suburban Homes Company, Parmly Billings Library, and several other businesses. Partner in the firm of Bailey & O'Donnell. Married Louise Roeser on October 31, 1887. They had six children. Home at 105 Clark Avenue is on the National Register of Historic Places. He died in January 28, 1948, age 87, and is buried at Mountview Cemetery.

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